The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) May 16 kept alive a proposed regulation to phase out over three years race-day furosemide for graded and listed stakes, but not before the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council (KEDRC) voted to reject the measure.

The debate will continue in early June when the KHRC holds a town hall meeting on the topic. Few, however, expect anything other than what has been said in recent months to be addressed.

One member of the KEDRC, Andy Roberts, DVM, said it comes down to perception versus science.

The KHRC voted 7-4 to kill a motion by member Tom Conway to shelve any discussion on furosemide, also called Salix, for 12 months. Conway, a Thoroughbred owner, noted a proposal had been rejected on a tie vote in April, and that the issue should die for now